Adjustable louver type closure for openings in buildings



'Jan. 21, 1958 V s. M. ZVEIBIL 2,820,259

7 ADJUSTABLE LOUVER TYPE CLOSURE FOR OPENINGS TN BUILDINGS Filed Sept.21, 1955' INVENTIOR SALVADOR MATHEUS ZV-EIBIL United States Patent2,820,259 ADJUSTABLE LOUVER TYPE CLOSURE FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGSSalvador Matheus Zveibil, Sao Paulo, Brazil Application September 21,1953, Serial No. 381,453 4 Claims. (Cl. -62) This invention relates toimprovements in louvered closures for the openings of buildings such aswindows and doorways and other openings. More particularly, the improvedlouvered structure of the present invention is designed to serve as anadjustable closure or shutter for windows, doors and other openings ofbuildings.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved louveredclosure for the openings in buildings, in which the louvers areadjustable according to the space available outside a window sash ordoor, for example.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved louveredclosure construction which is comparatively simple to manufacture andwhich is made up of a few standard parts.

According to the invention, the improved louvered structure comprises aframe, spaced cross bars extending between two opposite sides of saidframe, plate supporting means carried on said cross bars, and adjustablelouver plates, respectively carried by said plate supporting means. Inthis construction, means is provided for readily releasing thesupporting means from the cross bar to change the position of the platesupporting means with respect to the cross bar on which they areattached in order to thereby shift the plates or plate units, withrespect to the axes of the cross bars on which they are mounted.

The arrangement of the cross bars and plates is such as to provide aseries of overlapping plates and means is preferably provided forsimultaneously pivoting the plate units in order to change the openingbetween the plates or to form a complete relatively tight closure.

The improved louver structure of the present invention has the advantagethat it can be readily adapted to a particular door or window opening,regardless of the space available on the outside of the door or windowsash, in operating position so that the louver plates may be readilypivoted in the space available outside the window sash or door.

The improved louver construction includes other features and advantagesas will be apparent from the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment ofthe invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front perspective view of a portion of a building showing anopening such as a Window opening in which the improved louver structureis mounted and serves as a shutter or blind;

Fig. 2 is a broken vertical sectional view through the upper portion ofFig. 1 taken inside the left-hand frame of the louver structure andshowing the manner in which the adjustable louver plates are mounted andarranged;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken vertical sectional view of a single louverplate with its supporting means showing the manner in which it isattached to the cross bar and the manner in which the louver plates orpanels are attcahed to the plate supporting means, and

Fig. 4 is a broken horizontal sectional view taken approximately on theline 44 of Fig. 3, with the louver plate resting in place on a pair ofplate supporting means carried by a pivoted cross bar.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a part of a building 6 providedwith an opening such as a window with the usual outside trim 8. Thelouver structure of the present invention is illustrated as mountedinside the 'ice trim 8 and comprises a rectangular-shaped metal frame 10preferably made as a unit from sheet metal channel stock having ablock-C-shaped cross-section, as shown in Fig. 4. The open side of thechannel of the frame preferably fits inside the edges of the trim 8. Theframe 10 is hinged to the top of the opening in the building by means ofhinges 12 so that the entire louver structure may be swung outwardly ashown at 14 in Fig. 2 and set at any desired angle by any suitableadjustable supporting means, such as those sometimes used for stormwindows or awnings. The louver structure may be swung out at such anangle as to constitute an awning.

The louver mechanism mounted inside the rectangular frame 10 includes aplurality of horizontal rods or bars 16 having shouldered ends ofsmaller diameter fitting in holes in opposite sides of the frame 10, asclearly shown in Fig. 4. The cross bars or rods 16 are spaced apart apredetermined uniform distance'according to the width and overlap of theplates, and each serves to carry a louver plate 18 supported thereon bytwo or more elongated channel-shaped supporting members 20, which areadjustably secured to the cross bar.

The elongated channel-shaped supporting members 20 extend at rightangles to the axes of the cross bars or rods 16 and each is fastenedthereto by means of a rectangular metal block 22 welded to the rod 16, asimilar metal block 24 slidable in the channel of the member 20 held byscrews 26 on the opposite sides of the cross bar 16. The channel members20 are block-C-shaped in cross-section and include inturned flanges 28,the edges of which face each other in spaced-apart relationship oppositethe web 30 of the channel. The inturned edges 28 of the member 20 extendbetween the metal blocks 22 and 24 on opposite sides of the screws 26and when these screws are tightened the inturned flanges 28 of theelements 20 are clamped in fixed position between the blocks 22 and 24.The pair of members 20 mounted on each cross bar 16, in the structureillustrated, are adjustable lengthwise by the loosening and tighteningof the screws 26 so that there is ample space inside the louverstructure, in a particular window or other opening, for pivoting themembers 20 and the plates 18 carried thereby.

The simultaneous pivoting of the series of overlapping louver plateunits may be effected by a rack or other means in one side of the frame10 operating on one end of the plurality of cross bars 16, but theshowing of such means is simplified in the present instance by showing avertical adjusting rod 32 arranged inside the louver structure andhaving outwardly extending arms 34, one for each louver plate, which arerespectively attached to the upper ends of the supporting members 20 atone side of the structure by means of pivot pins 36. When the verticalbar 32 is moved up the plates 18 are pivoted to closed position, whereaswhen the bar 32 is moved down, the plates are pivoted on the bars 16 andswung to open position, such as that shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The bar 32may be moved to an extreme downward position in which the plates areagain moved to closed position, or nearly so, but will be inside out.The plates, therefore, may be set at any suitable angle for purposes ofadmitting light or air in any position of the louver structure, such as14 in Fig. 2.

The pair of channel-shaped supporting members 20 for each plate ismounted in parallel relationship on a single bar 16 and each member ispreferably provided with means for securing the plate thereon, theplates in the present instance being and preferably having a structureat each edge including a forwardly and outwardly--turned C-shaped upperflange 38 and a similarly forme'd -downwardly and inwardly turned lowerflange 40. The web 30 of the channel member 20 at the upper end, asshown in'Fig. 3, is cut out and bent into the hook-shaped retainingmemamazes.

3' her, 42. as shown, which is adapted to fit over the upper flange 38on the plate 18. The lower end of the member is provided with a pivotedhook 44, which is adapted .tqfit into-the-lowerflange 40, the book 44including a bracket member 46 -pivotedto the end of themember 20byrarbolticarryinga .wing nut 48.-

In. aSsemblingthe-plate 18. on the pair of supporting members20,'the:-1ower edge of the plate is tilted upwardly so. that its upperflange 38 hooks under the hook-like members 42. The hooks44 are pivotedupwardly under the plate. 18.and.:as the lower end of .the plate 18 ismoved closer;to:the supporting; members 20, the hooks 42 fit snugly-inthe flange 40. At .the same time the upper end of;the.-brackets 46.=aremoved into parallel. relationship with the members-20 and'their-endholes match the holes in: the. members 20. A bolt is inserted to fastenthe brackets-46;in'.place-withthe body. of the plate 18 resting on.the"surfaces. .of the pair of supporting members20.

In-assemblingthe louverplate units, each unit, including the-crossbar16, the pair of supporting members 20-and the.plate:18, they may beassembled'with the members 20 adjusted --with respect to the permissibleextension of vthe upper-:cndofzthe plate'18 above the cross bar 16. sothat they maybe readily pivotedby the member 32 or:.by equiv! alentmeans.

lmthisnconnection each cross bar 16 is provided'with nudzpins-Stlmnd 52of-reduced'diameter which are receivedfinpholes in the-side members ofthe frame 10, asshown inFig.-.4; the member-orend 52 being somewhatldngerthan the endt-50. and .carrying a compression spring 5.4; Withthe-sspringintplaceron.the member 52, this end-isiinsertedvin'itsiholein the frame 10, the spring com- .pressediandithea-end sinserted in itshole after which the :springi54'zismeleased toseat -the shoulder of:the'bar atatherleftinzFigz '4 against'the' side of-the frame '10.

1111c construction-lunch that the plate units are readily assembledandreadilwadjusted for the particular opening in which the louvered'closure isused.

'1; An exterior'closure for-buildingopenings including spaced-parallelframemembers and a plurality'of plate units=carried thereby, the-platesof which are arranged in parallelaoverlapping relationship at rightangles to and between the spaced frame members and pivotally movablerespect thereto; each plate unit for the closure comprising one of saidoverlapping plates, a rod with its endsarespectivelyattaehedtothe'spaced frame members extending'longitudinally alongone side-ottheplate and parallelto its-edges, a plurality of'spaced elongatedsupporting -members tdwhich the-plate of the-unit is attee-lied,each-supporting member-being OfblOCk-C channel shape in cross section;and supporting members being an ranged abright anglesto said rod' andplate, a'bloelefixed -to=the rod atthe position of the supportingmember, a block inthe channel of the= supporting member, and meansv for"drawing the block'- in the supporting member towarditlie-bloclc'fiiredto the rod for clamping the edges of the-supporting member betweentheblocks, said-drawing means=being'readil'y releasable-thereby permittingthe lengthwise slidir'ig of the supporting-'- members for the plateandthe=-simultaneous shifting of th'eplate there witltwith respmto-the rod.

2. An exterior closure for building'openings' including spaced'para-llel 1 frame members and a plurality: of plate units carriedthereby, the-- platcs-= of which are arranged 'imparall'eloverlappinglretationsliip' at'right angles to and botweem the;spacedfr'ame I members and pi-votally movable withwespect tlioreto,each-plate =unitfor the closure oomprising-onwoffsaidioverlappingplates, a' -rod with its eadsqespcctively attaelied to the spacedframe-members amd'fexteneling longitudinaily along one side-of" the"plate ins-parallel reialionship, a= plurality of spaced elongatedsupporting members to which theplate ofthe unitis attached-, saidsupportihgmembers being arranged-at substmtiallyl'rightaaglesto-saidaodand plate, areadily releasable clamping means for securing eachsupporting member to said rod, each readily releasable clamping meansincluding a member fixed to the rod and engaged by the supportingmember, and a movable member releasably attached to thefiiredmember andengaging the Supporting membefiwhereby the supporting member-held by theclamping means' may be loosened with respect to therodthereby-permitting'the-lengthwise-shifting of the supportingmembersfor thepl-atezin a direction at substantially right anglestwtheErod and the simultaneous shitting-of the attached plate-therewith.

3'. An exterior closure for buildingiopenings including spaced'parallel'frame members anda plurality 01?. plate units carried thereby,the plates of which are. arrange in parallel overlappingrelationshlp at.right angles to and b'etweenthe spacedlframe members and. pivotallymovable with respect thereto, eachv plate unitfor the closurecomprising, one of said overlapping plates, .a rod with its. endsrespectively. .attached'to. the. spaced frame members. and extendinglongitudinally along one. side. of the plate inparallellrelationship, aplurality. oflspaced elongated 'suPPQ tingmembers. to which the plateof. the u nit 'isaflnclied, said supporting members. beingchannel-j'shaped in cross-section and arrangcd'at substantiallyright angles to therod and plate. of the unit, .and'means .for sec-uring eaclisupporting,,member tosaid rod, each sea curing, means including, areadily. releasable clamping means..-having an element engaging the.edges. of the channel-shaped supporting, member,, whereby, the sup!-porting; member. held by, theclamping meansmay be loosenedwith-.respect.to therod-thereby permitting-tithe lengthwise.shitting,of.the supporting members-tor the plate in a. directiomat.substantiallyrightangles- 4m rod. andlh'e. simultaneous of Itheattachedsplate therewithe I p 4. An exterior closure for buildingopenings spaced pareHeLframememhers-and aphlralityof plate units.carried: thereby, ,the. plates of '.which-a!e .a.I;r8 1 d inparallel.overlapping-relationship at.right angles to and betweenthespaced fr'amlev members andlpivotally movable with. respectthereto, eachplate unit..for the closure cornprisingrcne of said overlapping, plates,tarrod with itsends respectively attached. to the spaced .frame. membersand. extending longitudinally along one. side of the plate in parallelrelationship, a plurality; oftspaced elongated supporting: members towhich the 1 plate: ofitlie unit is attached, said supportingmembersbeingarranged at substantially right angles to saidsroduandplate-the longitudinal edge portions-of each plate being-respectivelybent in a c.-shap.ed.a-rc in opposite directions, means-on eachsupportingmember extending around and retaining the bent arcuatetedgeportion of the plate which is bent away from the supporting member,means on the end of each supporting member oppositesaidedge portioncngaginginthetotherbentarcuateedge portion of the plate which projectsin the. direction toward the sup porting member, the I enter portion.vof. the bent arcuate other edge portion of one plate engaging thesurface of the plate next adjacent toward-which said other/edge portionex-tends whenthe plurality of :plates of the closure arepivoted tocollapsed position, andvmcans for-securing each supporting-member-tosaidrod, each securing means including a-readily' releasable. clampingmeans by which the supporting member held thereby'may-he loosened withrespect I to the .rod thereby, permittingthe lengthwise shifting. of thesupporting: members for the. platelima direction at substantiallyright-angles to the. rod-and the simultaneous shifting ,of the attached:plate: therewith.

ReferencesiCited in the file ofthis Lpatent UNITED STATES PATENTS-207,026 Fuller -Aug. 13; 1878 792,148 Nettleton IUnei IOI 190,21,403,054 Nabers Jan. 10, 1922 2533323! Petre Ian. 22,..1952

